SOFTWARE VERSION 5.
801-386-8960 HarvestRight.
CONTENTS 1. Error – Not Sensing Temperature Properly.................................................1 2. Error – Not Detecting Heat...........................................................................1 3. Error – Mid-batch Heater Failure – Heater Relay Failure.............................2 4. Error – Detecting Too Much Heat – Heater Relay Failure............................3 5. Error – Freeze Dryer Not Cooling – Firmware is detecting that the unit is not cooling at all................................
*The freeze dryer firmware displays an error condition for each of the situations shown below. The information that is needed to solve each error condition is found in this manual or may be found online at HarvestRight.com/v50. 1. Error – Not Sensing Temperature Properly. TO VIEW ALL VIDEOS FOR THIS SECTION VISIT: harvestright.com/v50?tsg=1 a. Press END PROCESS button on display b. Take food out of freeze dryer and place in your freezer c. Power off Freeze Dryer d.
System is not detecting increase in heat. Temperature is being measured, but there is no detected heat. a. Press CONTINUE. i. This may resolve the problem. If it does not resolve the problem in a few minutes the display will again state “Not Detecting Heat.” b. Press END PROCESS button on display c. Take food out of freeze dryer and place it in your freezer d. Power off Freeze Dryer e. Check to make sure that the shelf cable is securely connected. i.
b. Do the following: i. Press the CONTINUE button. This may resolve the problem. If it does not resolve the problem in a few minutes the display will again state “Mid-Batch Heater Failure.” ii. Then Press END PROCESS button iii. This will take you to the PROCESS COMPLETE Screen. Open your drain valve. Remove your food and put it in the freezer. iv. Press DEFROST. Wait a few minutes to see if heaters are warming.
f. At this point (with your unit powered OFF) you can check to see if the heaters are on by waiting for a few minutes. Touch the heater pads beneath the shelves to see if they are warm. If they are heating, your system has a faulty heater relay. To resolve this condition, you will likely need to replace the entire computer relay board. To do this, get a computer relay board from Harvest Right and follow the instructions in the “Relay Board Replacement” video. 5.
6. Error – Not Getting Cold Enough The system won’t start the dry process because the material/food hasn’t been able to get cold enough. TO VIEW ALL VIDEOS FOR THIS SECTION VISIT: harvestright.com/v50?tsg=6 a. Press CONTINUE and let it continue freezing. b. If you get the message again (Not Getting Cold Enough) the system may have a Refrigerant Problem? It is possible that there is not the proper amount of refrigerant in the condenser? There may be a leak. i.
The more likely cause for the error is that the “Start” button was pressed while the chamber was still under vacuum from a previous operation. For instance, after running a vacuum test, you press “Start” to begin a new batch. This will cause a “Vacuum Sensor Error” because the chamber is still under pressure. Another example is if you are in the middle of a batch, while the vacuum pump is running, and need to start over.
v. If none of these check out as being the problem, then go through the Vacuum Error Checklist and watch this video: “Vacuum Errors”. (For Checklist see Appendix 2). 9. Error – Inadequate Vacuum. Vacuum won’t pull low enough. TO VIEW ALL VIDEOS FOR THIS SECTION VISIT: harvestright.com/v50?tsg=9 a. Make sure drain valve is completely closed b. Clean door gasket c. Tighten vacuum hose fittings on freeze dryer and vacuum pump d.
c. Vacuum Sensor failure - If everything checks out and you can see by the thick ring around the door gasket that when the vacuum pump is on it is pulling a strong vacuum, there is a possibility that you have a Vacuum Sensor failure. You will need to call Harvest Right Support to deal with this problem at 801-386-8960. 11. Drying Time Expired. Vacuum Pump turns off, Freezing continues. a. Press CONTINUE to add more dry time.
APPENDIX 1: REFRIGERATION REPAIR If it is determined that there is a refrigeration problem and you need to bring in a refrigerator repair person to work on the refrigeration condenser, the following information will be required by the technician: The freeze dryer comes in three sizes: Large - 5 tray Medium- 4 tray Small- 3 tray The Large machine takes 7.
APPENDIX 2: VACUUM ERROR CHECKLIST Use this as a checklist. Go through each item and check it off before moving to the next. When you have a vacuum error, things to check for: 1. Clean the inside of your freeze dryer—wash it with soapy water and rinse it with clear water. It is important to also wash the shelf unit that the trays slide into (you can disconnect your shelf t o thoroughly wash it). 2.
4. Check vacuum hose connections. Remove the hose from the freeze dryer and the vacuum pump. Make certain the rubber “O” rings on each end of the hose are not damaged. 5. Vacuum Hose connections—securely hand tighten for JIC fittings. If you have an older freeze dryer, it may have a different style fitting that requires a wrench, please tighten it securely with a wrench. 6. Vacuum pump should be plugged into back of freeze dryer. 7. Vacuum pump powered on. The on switch is a 1 and the off switch is a 0.
8. If you have an oil vacuum pump, it should be completely drained of oil. The pump needs to have n ew oil and the oil should be filled a little higher than the middle of sight glass. 9. Vacuum pump needs to be free of 3rd party accessories or modification(s). 10. Silicone door gasket – ensure it is clean and not damaged (inside and out). 11. Make sure the door is clean so you get a good seal against the gasket. 12. Make certain the door connects securely to the black rubber gasket.
13. You may need to adjust the door. This can be done by slightly adjusting the screws and nuts that are on the hinges of the door. By tightening it a little, one screw at a time, you can test the closed door to see if the ring around the door is more complete. We have a video that shows how to adjust the door. Just make sure you don’t tighten the door too much as it needs to be free to move in and out as the vacuum pressure pulls it in during the freeze-drying process. 14. Run a dry vacuum test. a.
f. Power on freeze dryer; then press the leaf/logo. This will cause a test screen to appear. Press the button that says vacuum. The vacuum pump will turn on. If it doesn’t, make certain it is plugged into the back of the freeze dryer and that it is powered on (1 is on, 0 is off). When the vacuum pump first turns on, you will see the ring between the gasket and the door immediately grow wider to 3/8” or so. Once the vacuum pump is powered on, please let it run for 15 to 20 minutes.
15. If the vacuum pressure did not go below 500 mT during the dry test, use a thumb drive to capture data from the freeze dryer’s USB port, copy to computer, and then e-mail freeze dryer data (file that says “Harvest”) to a Harvest Right Support Technician. a. To capture this data, just turn off freeze dryer at the back of the unit. Then insert a blank thumb drive into USB port that is on the side of the freeze dryer next to the screen. Turn the freeze dryer back on.
APPENDIX 3: PERFORM A VACUUM TEST 1. Unplug and remove the shelf that holds food trays from the chamber. 2. Wipe out the interior of the chamber to insure it is clean and free of ice and water 3. Drain Hose needs to be sloped down to ensure all water is out of it. 4. Close Drain valve. 5. Remove vacuum hose and check “O” rings on both ends of the vacuum hose. Make sure they are in place and are not damaged. 6. Replace hose. Hand tighten both connections 7.
13. If there is very little air coming out of the exhaust and the pressure is still higher than 500 mT, it is probably a sign that the vacuum pump is bad and needs to be replaced.
2 HarvestRight.
